With the coming dark, my own body shifts into a cycle of down time. As someone who celebrates the shifting of the yearly cycle, I’ve learned to let myself flow with them. When winter comes, I hibernate and it’s okay. But hibernating is hard with the rush of the holiday season. There’s just so much to celebrate, along with so much to do. In the last couple of days alone, I … [Read more...]

On my feed I was excited to see a post called the 7 Stages of White People Getting Woke. Great--someone outlining the emotions and actions white folks go through when we first open our eyes to the truth of systemic racism in this country. I was all on board for recognizing white privilege, researching the pervasiveness of racism, feeling the feelings, connecting to others, … [Read more...]

The holidays are full of joy and cheer. Unless they’re not. For people with anxiety and depression, the holidays can be pretty miserable, leaving them looking for some kind of relief.
If you’re the type to suffer from the holiday blues, there are ways to get through the season without a great deal of suffering.
Lower Expectations
One of the main causes of … [Read more...]

I’ll admit it: I’m guilty of codependency in my romantic relationships. The why has many answers, from battling debilitating anxiety and depression for the past two years that have made it hard to leave my house, to the fact that most of my friends have moved away from the city I live in. As I shifted careers and began solely working from home, my isolation increased, as did my … [Read more...]

Not long ago, I sat with a sweet little old man who was dying. (This is a regular occurrence for me; I’m a rabbi who works in hospice.) The man’s one dying wish was simple: to speak to his teenage granddaughter on the phone in Australia before he died. His selfish daughter was too “bitter” about the past to allow this to happen, he said.
His request seemed so reasonable, his … [Read more...]

Three years ago, I experienced a drug-induced mental health crisis during which the police were contacted by a close family friend of mine. I was subsequently beaten up by the police, tasered three times, and psychiatrically hospitalized against my will for six days. I identify as a survivor of police brutality and the mental health industrial complex.
I have “swept my side … [Read more...]

Family dynamics can be tricky and we know that no family is perfect. Familial relationships can be some of the best support systems, but they can also be difficult and harmful if you are dealing with toxic family members. Navigating these relationships can be challenging, but also incredibly important when you have committed to a life of Radical Self Love.
Get Clear
Reflect … [Read more...]

I’m writing this piece anonymously because my mother frequently Googles me – types my name into a search bar to find all I’ve been up to splashed across her screen. I think she does this just so she can send my articles to her coworkers to show them how proud of me she is.
I’m writing this anonymously because sometimes, in an article, I’ll reference something she said to me, … [Read more...]

This article was originally published by EverydayFeminism.com and is republished with permission.
(Content Note: eating disorders, rape, forced prostitution, minor attraction, violence against transgender women)
I was in seventh grade when my friend Kat looked at my feet and said approvingly, “You know what my brother says. Small feet, small kiki [vagina].”
Kat’s brother … [Read more...]